Academics


Bachelor's Degree in Public Health

Learn how to prevent future disease outbreaks before they become epidemics as a public health major at ACPHS.

Public Health Bachelor’s Degree Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health at ACPHS combines health sciences and social justice to help graduates tackle today’s toughest health issues.  

You’ll study biology, genetics, community-based research, data analysis and interpersonal communication as you learn to work with diverse populations. You’ll also gain a strong understanding of the healthcare system while learning how to use preventative measures to improve health outcomes. 

Take part in service-learning experiences and public health internships. Work or volunteer in our Collaboratory to help reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Benefit from small classes and close connections to faculty who are leading researchers as well as accessible and dedicated mentors.

The public health major at ACPHS offers each student the ability to specialize in their area of interest with over 30 credit hours of electives and “selectives,” classes outside the standard curriculum that allow students to create a customized, independent experience. Our program director and advisors will work closely with you to tailor a curriculum that matches your interests and career goals.

The public health major at ACPHS is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. As of 2022, every graduate was either employed or accepted to an advanced degree program within a few months of receiving their degree.

A student conducts a blood glucose test at collaboratory event
What Is Public Health?
Public health serves as a connection between the medical breakthroughs that save lives and the tools that bring those breakthroughs to the people who need them. By learning how these connections work, public health majors ensure more people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.

Public health workers use their knowledge of research methods, community engagement, and the latest scientific studies to improve the lives of people from all walks of life. Organizations as varied as state health departments, medical centers, political offices, and nonprofits rely on people trained in public health to reduce the usage of our healthcare system and to ensure equity in impact of our healthcare programs.
Hands-On Learning in the Public Health Major

Get real-world experiences and prepare to hit the ground running in public health careers.

At ACPHS, you’ll have opportunities to participate in public health internships that connect you with potential colleagues and employers, working in the political and medical hub of Albany, New York. Recent internship sites include Capital City Rescue Mission, Columbia County Department of Health, New York State Senate and Assembly, New York Public Health Association, South End Children’s Café, and Radix Ecological and Sustainability Center.

Volunteer and service opportunities give you the chance to learn while expanding access to health care in the greater Albany community. For example during the pandemic, public health majors working in our Collaboratory helped to provide COVID-19 testing and tracking and worked alongside pharmacy students to vaccinate our community.

Two students stand in front of greenhouse at the radix center for public health coursework
Public Health Major Jobs
From entry-level public health jobs to healthcare leadership positions, earning your bachelor’s in public health will open a wide variety of career paths. Our graduates are advancing health care and impacting patient outcomes while employed at organizations including the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Senate, and the Home Care Association of New York.

Now is a great time to earn your degree and pursue public health jobs: employment of health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 17% over the next decade, more than twice the average rate of growth for all occupations.

Your public health degree can also jumpstart a longer academic career by preparing you for an advanced degree. ACPHS public health majors have gone on to become doctors, nurses and pharmacists; earn a master's degree in business, communication, or public health; or enter doctoral programs in health sciences and communication.
A student holds open a book during class
Public Health Degree Coursework
Scientifically grounded and socially engaged, the public health major at ACPHS provides a well-rounded, personalized and practical education. 

As a top public health college, ACPHS provides the skills critical to success in the field, including cross-cultural competence, research practices and a deep understanding of the health care system. Our program also covers the basic sciences and the core public health principles of social justice, prevention, and program implementation.  

Faculty bring their real-life experiences into the classroom in innovative ways. Some create role-playing lessons that mimic health emergencies to build teamwork skills. Others teach local history and mapmaking skills that add a New York flavor to the undergraduate curriculum. The program culminates with a capstone experience which can be research-focused or completed as a public health internship.